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A '''rune lock''' is a barrier that prevents you from traversing a branch before you have a sufficient number of the [[runes of Zot]]. Two rune locks currently exist in ''Crawl'':

*In order to exit the [[the Vaults]], you must have 1 rune. Any rune, even runes obtained outside the Vaults, can bypass this lock. If you enter the Vaults with no runes, you must get one (either from the Vaults itself, the [[Tomb]] inside, or from the [[Abyss]]) before you can go back to the Dungeon normally. Note that [[Ignis]]' Rising Flame ability will bypass the rune lock.
*The entrance to [[the Realm of Zot]] requires 3 runes to unlock. This serves as the main barrier preventing the player from simply descending as deep as possible and reaching the Orb.

==Rune Availability==
*All runes are available as the first rune. However, it is highly recommended to get the first rune from one of the two 'upper' Lair branches available in your game ([[Snake Pit]]/[[Spider's Nest]] and [[Swamp]]/[[Shoals]]). Obtaining the second rune is generally best done in the other Lair branch from the list above.
**Followers of [[Jiyva]] can trivially acquire the rune from the [[Slime Pits]] once they have accumulated sufficient [[piety]], but others will likely wish to wait until later.
*The third and final rune for opening the Realm of Zot is typically obtained from either [[the Vaults]], the [[Slime Pits]], or the [[Abyss]].
*All runes found in the [[Hell]]s, [[Pandemonium]], and [[Tomb]] are considered part of the optional [[extended game]] and are mainly used to improve the final [[score]].

==History==
*Prior to [[0.30]], you needed a rune to ''enter'' [[the Vaults]]. This rune lock has been moved to ''exiting'' the Vaults.
*Prior to [[0.28]], you needed 2 runes to enter a [[ziggurat]].
*Prior to [[0.19]], you needed 3 runes to enter a ziggurat.
*Prior to [[0.14]], you did not need a rune to enter the Vaults.
**Although the concept of a rune lock to the Vaults had been debated since very early versions of ''Crawl'', it was only implemented after the [[0.13]] tournament, in which acquiring a rune before D:14 was an optional challenge conduct.

::Without a rune lock, players have much less of a reason to enter the Lair Branch endings at an expected level. They could explore Dungeon, both Lair Branch:1-4s, and Vaults:1-4 before entering a branch end. So by the time the player entered their first rune vault, they'd be overlevelled (thus, removing the challenge from obtaining your first rune).
*A rune lock requiring 3 runes has always existed for [[the Realm of Zot]].

[[Category:Dungeon Features]]

Rune lock - Revision history

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